A Herman Miller Company Changing the Landscape of Guest Accommodations within the Patient Room

June 9, 2014

Nemschoff’s Palisade™ Collection Elevates the Critical Role of Guest and Family Support to Enhance and Improve Outcomes, Safety, and Workflow

Nemschoff’s new Palisade collection is designed to encourage guest participation in the healing process by creating an accommodating and responsive setting within the patient room.

Using a human-centered approach to incorporate comfortable and accommodating amenities, this new Nemschoff collection is designed to anticipate and support the needs of guests within the limited space of patient rooms.

Palisade is based on research that shows the presence of family members can improve patient outcomes, communication, and satisfaction. Family support can also lower the potential of patient injury, thus reducing costs, as shown in a recent study at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. By providing family areas in patient rooms, patient falls were cut by two-thirds compared to rooms with no family area.

“It is well known that the support of family and friends has a positive effect on the patient experience,” said Dave Ruppel, Nemschoff Vice President and General Manager. “The Palisade collection was designed to offer a sense of welcome and comfort to guests, supporting their need to work, eat, sleep, and stay close to their loved one.”

“Palisade is a thoughtful solution that recognizes the fact that families and friends function as a critical part of the caregiving team,” added Louise McDonald, President of Herman Healthcare.

Building upon years of knowledge and leadership in the sleep solutions category, Nemschoff designed Palisade to be a more complete family-centered solution that elevates the critical role of guest and family support to enhance and improve outcomes, safety, and workflow within the patient room.

The Palisade collection features seating, technology support, lighting, storage, sleeping, and work space. Designed for Nemschoff by Jess Sorel of Sorel Studio, Palisade supports multiple functions within the patient room footprint while providing the flexibility to support the continuous changes in healthcare facilities.

While traditional patient rooms focus on the patient, Sorel was intrigued by the idea of focusing on another important audience within that same space. In designing Palisade, he created an environment that speaks to the patient’s guests first, instantly signaling a sense of welcome and support.

“From the minute you walk into the room, you can immediately see that there is something different here, and you are the target,” said Sorel. “Once this guest has been effectively cared for, it enables them to turn their attention to hosting the patient. It’s fascinating to think of hosting as not only a person-to-person relationship, but also something a space can communicate to a person.”

Palisade includes a sofa that converts to a sleep surface, open and intuitive storage, a guest stool that is designed to sit next to the bed and supports eye-level guest-to-patient interactions, and a mobile table with legs that slide under the sofa for a more efficient footprint.

“Palisade is ideal for facilities where space is at a premium, but comfort and satisfaction can’t be compromised,” said Ruppel. “Through comfortable, flexible solutions, facilities will be ready to support patients and their guests, while still maximizing hospitals’ use of space and return on investment.”

Three key concepts that the Palisade collection embodies are accommodation, connectivity, and space efficiency:

Accommodation: Palisade’s thoughtful features make it easier for guests to talk eye-to-eye with patients, share meals, check in with the office, and sleep without leaving the patient’s side. Meeting all of these needs make guests feel welcome and keeps them connected to their loved one so they can support the healing process.

Connectivity: Optional technology lets guests stay connected to the outside world while staying near the patient. Dedicated power and USB outlets ensure that guests can always find a place to plug in their phones and laptops without disrupting caregivers’ activities.

Space Efficiency: Integral features make Palisade more functional while minimizing its overall footprint. Individual components are designed to nest, move, or provide extra functions, such as lighting and coat storage, by leveraging vertical space.\

About NemschoffNemschoff, a Herman Miller company, provides innovative furnishings for healthcare and other high-use environments, including education and public spaces. With equal emphasis on style and performance, Nemschoff solutions combine high-quality materials and construction, thoughtful features, and unparalleled comfort, into a unique form of design that has become the preferred choice for equipping healthcare environments. Founded in 1950, with headquarters in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Nemschoff believes that people make a difference, things should be built to last, and design can improve the way we work, heal, and live.